Vacuum mechanism for paper making machines



Feb. 21, 1939. A. BROUQHTON 2,147,8 1

VACUUM MECHANISM FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed March 25, 1936 '5 sheetssheet l Feb. 21, 193 A. r-:.- BROUGHTON I 2,147,877

VACUUM MECHANISM FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed March 25, 1936 5 Shets-Sheet 2 Feb. 21, 1939. BROUGHTON 2,147,877

VACUUM MECHANISM FOR PAPER MAKjING MACHINES Filed March 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Shed s a INVENTO/i.

Patented Feb. 21, 1939 PATENT OFFICE VACUUM MECHANISM FOR. PAPER MAKING MA ms Arthur E. Broughton, Glens Falls, N. Y.

Application March 25, 1936, Serial No. 70,846

4 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuummaintaining mechanism for the suction heads of paper making machines. a

In connection with the use of a plurality of paper making machines, for economical operation, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a single suction pump for use in maintaining the proper vacuum on groups of suction heads of all the machines and to provide suitable mechanism which, as a break occurs in the pulp web of one or more of the machines or as one or more of the machines is shut down, will permit the pump to properly act in conjunction with the remaining machines so that the remaining machines may be maintained in operation.

It is another object to provide novel improvements on my vacuum control mechanism disclosed and claimed in my United States Patent No. 1,962,477, issued June 12, 1934, and entitled Vacuum control mechanism.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view diagrammatically illustrating an application of the invention to a plurality of paper making machines, portions of two machines being illustrated;

Fig. 2 is a view looking from the left toward the portions of the left hand paper making machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken chiefly in vertical section on enlarged scale and illustrating one of the control mechanisms shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view looking toward the opposite side of the'control mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the air leg shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on enlarged scale through one of the valves that are used.

Referring to the drawings, certain parts of two r paper making machines A and B respectively are more or less diagrammatically illustrated. The first floor of a paper mill is designated by the numeral 1 and above this floor the two machines A and B operate. Only a few of the parts of the machine B are shown but it will be understood that this machine includes the same parts as does machine A, which is shown in greater detail.

The Fourdrinier wire upon which the mat of paper is formed at the wet end of the paper making ma hine is designated by the numerall, and

this wire runs over flat boxes 9, rollers Ill and couch roll I I. The dandy roll l2, located between the second and third flat boxes 9, is illustrated in connection with the machine A. Each of the fiat boxes 9 over which the wire 8 travels is shown as 5 being connected by a flexible connection l3 to a T-fitting H. The water drawn from the paper web, as it is carried over the fiat boxes 9 by the wire 8, is separated from the air drawn from the various fiat boxes in the various T-fittings I4 and 10 the water from each flat box runs downwardly from the fitting l4 connected thereto into a seal box IE though a water leg or pipe l6 connected at its upper end to the lower connection of the particular fitting ll. The water legs running 15 downwardly from the fittings l4 connected to the first two flat boxes 9 are preferably vertical pipes,

in order that as the water passes down through these pipes, considerable suction will be createdto assist in maintaining or to maintain without assistance the necessary vacuum in the first two flat boxes. The seal box I5 is provided with an overflow conduit I! for the discharge of water therefrom. Air legs or pipes i 8 are connected to the upper connections of the fittings l4 and theseair legs run upwardly therefrom to carry oil? the air separated from the water in the fittings H.

A conduit 19 runs from the couch roll II to the intake side of a couch pump 20 and this couch pump is provided with an outlet 2 I.

In order to automatically accurately maintain uniformity of vacuum pressure on the fiat boxes 9, I utilize, with the fiat boxes, vacuum control mechanism generally similar to that shown and described in my United States Patent issued June 12, 1934, and entitled Vacuum control mechanism". Inasmuch as the said vacuum control mechanism is fully described in said above referred to patent, it need only be briefly described here.

There is provided a manifold 22 located well above the fiat boxes 9 for each machine and this manifold is connected to a conduit 23. The various conduits 23 of the two paper making machines A and B, together with another conduit 23 from a third machine (not illustrated) are connected to a header 24 which leads into the intake side of a single suction pump 25 which acts in conjunction with all of the various paper making machines. The suction pump 25 is equipped with an outlet 26.

The air legs 18 are connected at their upper ends to valves 21 which are, in turn, connected to the manifold 22. Castings 28 are secured to the valves 21 and these castings of substantially open hand shape support cylinders 29. The cylinders 29 are open at their lower ends and closed at their upper ends and mounted within each cylinder is a piston 39 having a central aperture 39b through which loosely projects a sleeve 3|. This sleeve is provided with an external flange 3|a which cooperates with a downwardly extending ridge 390 on piston 39 adjacent the aperture 30b as do a valve member and a valve seat. Downwardly projecting lugs 99d are formed on the piston 39 which tend to guide the flange 3|a to and from the ridge 30c. Having screw threaded connections with the lower end of the sleeve 3| is a stud 32 connected as by a pin 33 to the upper end of the valve stem 21a of the adjacent valve 21. This pin 33 is received within notches 28a at its outer portions, these notches being formed in a central hub of the casting 29. Accordingly. although the stud 92 may slide upwardly and downwardly relative to casting 29, this stud cannot be rotated relative to the casting. A relatively heavy coiled compression spring 35 is disposed within the cylinder 29 and bears at one end against the closed end of the cylinder and at its other end against the piston 30. A collar 38 surrounds the sleeve 3| near the upper end of the sleeve and is held from removal of! this end of the sleeve by means of a pin 31. A relatively light coiled spring 38 encircles the upper portion of the sleeve 3| and bears at one and against the collar 38 and at its other end against the piston 39. Each cylinder 29 has connected thereto between its closed end. and the piston an a pressure equalizing pipe 39 which runs downwardly from the cylinder and projects through a cap Ila at the upper end of the air leg I9 for the particular fiat box 9 in connection with which the cylinder 29 is used. This pipe 39 projects downwardly through the air leg l8 to terminate in an open end within the fitting H, as best shown in Fig. 2. A pressure gauge 49 is preferably connected to the closed end of each cylinder 29.

Each vacuum control mechanism just described acts automatically to maintain a substantially constant vacuum in the flat box 9 in connection with which it is used when the paper making machine on which it is used is in operation. Assuming that the proper vacuum is provided in the flat box 9 when the valve 21 is partly opened, the parts of the control mechanism will assume approximately the position shown in Fig. 3. The pressure equalizing pipe 39, affording communication between the fitting l4 and the cylinder 29, will cause the air pressure in the cylinder to be the same as in the flat box and the spring 93 will hold the flange 3|a of sleeve 3| in tight engagement with theridge 39c. so as to maintain the opening 39b of the piston 39 closed. Of course, the position of the valve 21 determines whether or not the pump 29 will assist in maintaining the vacuum in the flat box. If for any reason, the vacuum in the flat box 9 is increased beyond the requisite degree, i. e., the pressure in the flat box is reduced, the p essure in the cylinder 29 will be correspondin y reduced and the piston 30 will rise against the tension of spring 35. As this occurs, the spring 39 which bears against the piston 39 will cause the sleeve 3| and the valve stem 21a to rise until the valve 21 is closed and. of course, as the valve closes. the suction on the flat box will be decreased. If the vacuum still remains too great after the valve 21 has tion adjacent this point.

closed, naturally the piston 30 will continue to rise against the pressure of the spring 38, thereby causing the piston to draw away from the flange 3|a of the sleeve 3| to permit air to rush into the cylinder 29 through the opening 391) and break the vacuum in the flat box. Atmospheric air rushing into the cylinder 29 will then permit the spring 35 to again move the piston 39 downwardly until ridge 390 seats with the flange 3|a of the sleeve, whereupon no further air can be admitted through the aperture 301) into the cylinder and the correct vacuum in the flat box will be restored either through opening of the valve 21 or by vacuum created by the passage of water through the water legs i8 connected to the fiat box.

If for any reason the vacuum in the flat box 9 should fall beyond the level for which the control mechanism is set, i. e., the pressure in the flat box should increase, then the pressure in the cylinder 29 will similarly increase and the spring 35 will force the piston downwardly to push the sleeve 3| and valve stem 21a downwardly to open valve 21 farther sothat the suction pump 25 may draw greater quantities of air from the air leg l8. The vacuum in the fiat box accordingly is automatically controlled irrespective of outside factors that may tend to change the vacuum in the box.

Adjustment of the control mechanism to maintain any desired vacuum in the flat box is made by screwing the sleeve 3| upwardly or downwardly farther on the stud 32. For this purpose a small gear 3|b is formed at the lower end of the sleeve 3| and this gear meshes with a wide pinion 4| mounted on a shaft 42 journaled in a pair of lugs 43 carried by the casting 28. The shaft 42 projects downwardly below the casting 29 and extends through a suitable bracket 44 which may be supported at any desired point on the paper making machine. The lower end of the shaft 42 carries a beveled gear 45 which may be rotated by means ,of a beveled pinion 49 mounted on a shaft 41. This shaft may be carried to any desired point convenient to the paper making machine tender and turned by means of a handle knob 48 secured thereto. Preferably the shafts 41 for all the vacuum control mechanisms for a single machine, such as the machine A, will be carried to a central point, so that they will all be readily accessible for opera- Adjustment of the various control mechanisms for a single machine may thus be made at a point remote from the flat boxes.

Automatic control valves are provided in each of the conduits 23 so that in case one of the paper making machines should shut down or in case the pulp web should break in one of the machines, the single vacuum pump 25 may properly act in conjunction with the other machines to assist in maintaining the proper vacuum pressure on the flat boxes of the other machines. The automatic control valves are designated as entireties by the letter V and are shown in detail in Fig. 6.

Each valve V includes a valve body 49 which is interposed in conduit 23 between two sections thereof. The valve body 49 is preferably closed at one side by a plug 50 forming a guide for a reciprocating valve stem 5|. The valve used is preferably a double seated valve and includes a U-shaped web 52 in vertical cross section which divides the valve body into two chambers, one joining the intake port of the body and the other joining the outlet port. Valve seats 58 are formed in the web 52 for cooperation with conical valve members 54 secured to valve stem 5|. Attached to the plug is a casting 55 through which the stem 5i extends and this casting curves outwardly from the cap and forms a support for a cylinder 56. Within this cylinder 56 is a piston 51 mounted for reciprocation and received within an aperture in this piston is a sleeve 58 having a knurled flange at its inner end. The outer end 01 the valve stem 6| is screw threaded and is screwed into the sleeve 58, turning movement of the valve stem 5| being prevented by a cross pin 59 attached to the stem and having itsend received within notches 55a within a central hub of the casting 55. A washer 60' surrounds sleeve 56 within the cylinder 58 and this washer bears against the inner side of the piston 51. The sleeve 58 is provided with a shoulder 58a which bears against the outer side of the piston anda cross pin 6| carried by the sleeve 58 bears against the washer 60. Thus while the sleeve 58 may be turnedvrelative to piston 51, it is not capable of longitudinal movement relative to the piston. A coiled spiral spring 62 disposed within cylinder 56 bears at one end against the closed end of the cylinder B and at its other end against piston '51. The closed outer end of the cylinder is preferably equipped with a pressure gauge 63. A pipe 64 has connection at its upper end with the cylinder 56 between the piston 51 and the closed end of the cylinder and it has connection at its lower end with conduit l9 adjacent the couch roll ii.

Let us consider the operation of the two valves V in connection with the two paper making machines A and B. When both machines A and B are in operation, and the pulp webs on the wires 8 of the two machines are properly passing over the couch rolls II, the couch pumps 20 will maintain the two couch rolls ll under vacuum pressure and as the pipes 64 communicate with the conduits i9 adjacent the couch rolls Ii, the chambers of the cylinders'56 will be under vacuum pressure to move and maintain the pistons 51 to the right of the position shown in Fig. 6 against the tension of the springs 62 and thereby hold the valve members 54 spaced from their valve seats 53. Accordingly, the valves V of the two machines will remain open as long as the couch rolls ll of the machines are under proper vacuum pressure. The single vacuum pump 25 thus exerts proper suction on the two conduits 23 of both machines A and B to act with the various control mechanisms of the two machines to maintain the flat boxes 9 under the proper vacuum pressure.

Now let us assume that either the pulp web in machine Abreaks or that this machine is for some reason placed out of operation while it is desirable to maintain machine B in operation. As the pulp web of machine A breaks or as machine A is placed outof operation, the pulp web will no longer seal the couch roll ll of machine A and as a result, the pressure in couch l I and in conduit l9 of machine A will rapidly rise, thereby causing a corresponding rise in pressure of the air within the chamber of cylinder 56 of valve V of machine A. As this occurs, the spring 62 of this valve forces the piston 51 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, causing the valve members 54 of valve V of machineA to engage their seats 53 to close the valve and thereby close the conduit 23. The pump 25 continues to act in conjunction with the machine B as the conduit 23 is closed,

with the machine so that vast bodies of air cannot be drawn into the pump 26 from the conduit 23 of machine A to destroy the action of the pump in connection B as would be the case ii. the valve V iri machine A were not provided. Accordingly, the proper vacuum pressure is maintained on the flat boxes in machine B by the single vacuum pump 25, so that machine B may be operated irrespective oi. whether machine A continues in proper operation or not. Of course, the valve V of machine B acts in similar manner to permit machine A to operate in case anything should happen to prevent the operation 01' machine B. a

, Assuming that machine A has been shut down for a time and that machine A is then again put in operating condition, as the paper web carries over the couch roll ll of machine A, it will seal this roll and the couch pump 20 of machine A will then quickly establish the proper vacuum pressure within the couch roll II and the conduit I! of machine A. stored in the cylinder 56 oi valve V oi machine A and this valve will then automatically open so that the single pump 25 will again be eil'ective in connection with both machine A and machine While the operation of the pump 25 has been described in connection with but two paper making machines, it will one pump can be used with any number of paper making machines found in a paper mill, the

be understood that this- The vacuum will then be repump acting to maintain the proper condition in the flat boxes, of all the other paper making machines as one or more of the machines is shut down.

By reason oi-the fact that a single vacuum pump 25 can be used in conjunction with two or more paper making machines in place of one pump for each machine as is the usual practice, a large saving in power in operating the plurality of machines is efiected. This saving is accomplished by use of the valves V without necessitating the shutting down any one of the machines is shut down.

While the pump 25 is shown and described as being used in conjunction with the fiat boxes of the several machines to assist in maintaining the proper vacuum pressure on these flat boxes, it will be understood that in combination with valves such as the valves V, a single vacuum pump can be used for maintaining the proper vacuum pressure on other suction heads of a plurality of machines. Although the pipes 64 areshown as being connected with the conduits running from the couch roll of the diiferent machines, these pipes could equally as well be connected to any conduits or chambers which will be maintained under vacuum pressure during operation of the machines and which will be subject to a marked rise in pressure in case of a paper break or in case of a'shut down of the machines.

By turning the sleeve 58 of a valve V, the valve may be readily adjusted to open and close when the chamber of cylinder 56 is under varying pressure.

Due to the fact that the flat boxes of the plurality oi machines are maintained under'substantially constant vacuum pressure by the control mechanisms therefor, it becomes possible to use but the one vacuum pump 25 for the plurality oi. machines when the valves V are provided.

It will, of course, be understood that various of other machines as changes may be madein the form, details. ar- 1| rangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention, which generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a plurality of paper making machines each having a group oi first suction heads, an air conduit receiving air from said first suction heads, a second suction head and means for maintaining the second suction head under vacuum pressure, of a single vacuum pump for use with the groups of first suction heads of the plurality of machines, said pump receiving from all said air conduits, a valve for each machine in each air conduit and valve control means for each machine operated by the air pressure in the second suction head of that machine for opening and closing its valve, each valve control means acting to close its valve as the air pressure in the second suction head of the particular machine rises above a certain pressure and acting to open its valve as the air pressure in its second suction head of the partlcular machine falls below the certain pressure.

2. The combination with a plurality of paper making machines each having flat boxes, an air conduit receiving air from said flat boxes, a couch roll and means for maintaining the couch roll under proper vacuum pressure, of a single vacuum pump for use with the flat boxes of the plurality of machines, said pump receiving from all said air conduits, a valve for each machine in each air conduit and valve control means tor each machine operated by the air pressure in the couch roll or that machine for opening and closing the said valve of that machine, said valve control means for each machine acting to close its valve as the air pressure in the couch roll of that machine rises above a certain pressure and acting to open its valve as the air pressure in the couch roll of that machine falls below the certain pressure.

3. The combination with a plurality oi paper making machines, each having flat boxes, a vacuum control mechanism for maintaining the flat boxes respectively under substantially constant vacuum pressure, an air conduit receiving from said flat boxes, a couch roll and means for maintaining the couch roll under vacuum pressure, of a single vacuum pump for use with the fiat boxes of the plurality or machines, said pump receiving from all said air conduits, and valve control means for each machine operated by the air pressure in the couch roll of the particular machine for closing the valve of the particular machine as the air pressure in the couch roll of that machine rises above a certain pressure and for opening the valve of the particular machine as the air pressure in the couch roll of that machine falls below the certain pressure.

4. The structure defined in claim 1, and means for regulating each valve to vary the certain pressure at which the valve will operate.

ARTHUR E. BROUGHTON. 

